What to do in a crisis (1)

yinka ogunlami

March 17, 2016 4:55 PM

The Word for Today devotional by United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) says:

'Don't Look Back'

Do not drift. Typically we react to a crisis in the same three ways as the sailors on board Paul’s ship: ‘The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along..’

The first thing life’s storms tend to do is make us drift. We lose sight of our goals and forget where we are headed. We ignore our values and get off course.

Because they were not equipped with compasses and the stars were obscured by the storm, the sailors were in total darkness.

Which raises the question: How do you characteristically react in a dark situation when you cannot see the stars and you do not have a compass? You drift.

You go where the waves carry you. You let your problems batter you and toss you back and forth. In life, strong currents can discourage you and make you wonder, ‘What’s the use? Why fight it?’

Therefore, you end up going with the flow. Now’s the time to do the opposite! Strengthen your grip of faith: ‘Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful … Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded … persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised’ (Hebrews 10:23, 35-36 NIV 2011 Edition). Note the phrase: ‘He who promised is faithful’. Question: Has God ever failed you? Answer: No! In addition, He will not now.

‘Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess … he who promised is faithful’ (v. 23 NIV 2011 Edition), and He will bring you through this crisis.

yinka ogunlami